In 2011, the Sister Wives Blog started out as a place to talk about the TLC reality show "Sister Wives", Kody Brown and his wives Christine, Robyn, Meri and Janelle. Today we not only discuss the show, we discuss Polygamy in our society, and the public perceptions of the Mormon Religion. We discuss "Polygamy USA" and will be covering "My 5 Wives."
This blog is geared towards the adult reader, so please, no one under the age of 18 years. Thank you!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

"Sister Wives" - RMNBelle with interesting real estate facts.

RMNBelle wrote to me, and she had more information that I had to give her!It's VERY interesting to her take on the Real Estate Market in LV, so let's dig in!
I have been wondering for some time now where the Browns are located here in Las Vegas.

I was curious what schools they would be attending. Some schools here would be better with TV personalities and a family of their type than others. After reading your page I realized that they live within 3 miles of me! I actually just looked at a house to buy in the same area about 3 months ago!
I was quite irritated during the whole moving process with them and their realtor. As others have posted, we have one of the worst housing markets, I believe we actually are the worst, in the country. You can purchase a home and pay half the monthly payment than you would for rent; however, as seen on the show they couldn't get a loan.The part that bothered me though was the statement that they couldn't find a house large enough to accommodate them all or houses right next to each other. There is an area here in Vegas that is made up of nothing but larger homes on decent sized pieces of property and they actually run less than what they are paying total to rent all their houses. The crazy thing is, they live less than a mile from where this type of housing starts! A family friend has 2 houses out there and was looking to sell or lease one of them at the same time I had originally heard they were moving and looking for a place. I actually considered writing the Browns about the house but I wasn't sure where to contact them and not sound like a crazy person trying to sell them a house, LoL. The house was originally a large 2 story (5 bedrooms) with a single story built for their son behind it (4 bedrooms) shortly after they decided to have their mother move in but she wanted her own space so they built a home in between (3 bedrooms) the two and actually connected all of the homes just like the Browns home in Utah. They were 3 separate fully functioning homes but all connected. They ended up building a court yard with a pool, spa plus swing set area in the middle. The housing compound (as our friends called it) kind of had a shape like this I_, I know that is not much help, LoL. Anyway, they even were offering to build a 4th area to the home if the buyer or lease to buyer were to request it. There are multiple other homes just like this in that area. They look like one home from the outside but are actually separate on the inside. They were all built this way in order to avoid multiple property taxes. My father owns a janitorial/handyman business and has done work in many of them (thanks to the recommendation of the lady who owns the above described home) ALSO, we have an over abundance of brand new communities out here with half of the homes sitting empty because the economy crashed so badly here. It is simple to find 2-5 empty homes next to one another in new and older communities. There had to have been other issues that limited where they could get homes, maybe because of filming, which I doubt because everywhere you go here in Vegas something is being filmed. I just know that there are plenty of areas with multiple homes next to each other or large homes to accommodate them all available in Las Vegas.
I still can't get over the fact that I live so close to them and didn't even know it. I would normally shop at the same area stores they most likely go to (I became disabled a few years ago and can't drive otherwise I'm sure I would have bumped into someone by now) Like another person said, Las Vegas actually is quite a good sized city but due to the way they have designed the city we are broken down into many smaller areas. These areas are not actual cities but names given to different parts of the city. Some of the more well known areas are: Summerlin, The Lakes, Green Valley (actually in Henderson), Desert Shores (not far from them) Lone Mountain (this is actually where they are) Centennial, Aliante and Mountains Edge. Each of these areas could pretty much be blocked off from the rest of the city but still maintain itself as an independent city. They all have their "local" grocery stores, banks, schools, parks, police/fire stations, hospitals and even Casino's, LoL! I thank you VERY much for finally putting my questions to rest! Do you have any idea if the kids are going to public school, private school or home school? (The HS kids go to Centennial, I believe, I am not sure where the others go.) Our school systems here are VERY chaotic and overcrowded so home school is not unusual. My son starts kindergarten this year and would actually have attended the same elementary school as some of the Brown kids should attend if we had purchased the home I mentioned earlier! Are any of the wives or Kody working regular jobs? (Supposedly they are going to start working for Mona, the Real estate lady we saw on TV. Nice break they’ve had, huh?) Sorry for all the questions but I have been curious about that stuff as well and considering your obvious skill I figured you may have an answer to them :) Thanks again for your excellent detective work. Aww, thanks, it takes all of us here to keep it going! We appreciate flattery! You now have another dedicated fan of you and your site! I look forward to the new season and the new baby. They have 3 hospitals within 5 minutes fortunately, if they decide to go that route! (Robyn says she’s going to have a home birth, with just Kody, the midwife, and her. I find that strange, she wouldn’t include her sister wives!)

I actually wrote about what a crock it was they couldn’t find a house, then in the BROWN NEWS!! Gossip, (also in the top 10) we heard there were some problems with the wives not wanting to live together, so your information is quite interesting. Easy to find homes, huh? We sure didn’t hear that on TV! We almost moved to Vegas, and I can NOT imagine those por kids going from home school, to a small school, to a HUGE school, they are overcrowded to say the least!

Interesting, she tells us there are PLENTY of homes in the area to fit them, interconnected! Tell us what you think, or what you'd like her to see!

I wonder why then they took the four separate houses - could it have been zoning laws? I know in PA there are laws that limit the number of unrelated people living in a home (this issue arises all the time in the DPW AND on college campuses with unrecognized Greek housing). I realize the Browns are "related" so to speak, but technically it is Kody, his lawful wife, his tri-concubines and their love children.

Other thought is that this does create more drama for the upcoming season. And at this time, TLC is footing the bill in a manner of speaking. The Browns probably don't believe this gravy train will end anytime soon so are no longer needing to live more conservatively - just a thought.....

It was already CRYSTAL clear to me that the wives are no longer interested in living within the same property lines. I think Meri tolerated it with Christine and Janelle, but can't avoid noting how Robyn never moved in with them. And since there would be no valid excuse other than green eyed (justified IMO) jealousy to keep Robyn in a separate dwelling from the other three...they each got their own. Yikes.

"The house was originally a large 2 story (5 bedrooms) with a single story built for their son behind it (4 bedrooms) shortly after they decided to have their mother move in but she wanted her own space so they built a home in between (3 bedrooms) the two and actually connected all of the homes just like the Browns home in Utah. They were 3 separate fully functioning homes but all connected. They ended up building a court yard with a pool, spa plus swing set area in the middle. The housing compound (as our friends called it) kind of had a shape like this I_, I know that is not much help, LoL. Anyway, they even were offering to build a 4th area to the home if the buyer or lease to buyer were to request it. There are multiple other homes just like this in that area."

I would like to know more about the realtor (Mona) and the realty company. It seems funny that neither the realtor nor her colleagues knew about any available "multi-family" dwellings, yet Belle knows of all kinds that are available. AND, no one in that realty firm could help the Browns secure financing of any kind ...in THIS desperate market.

Maybe I am cynical (CJ, you have totally rubbed off on me), but it just seems "off".

Per Anne's question about zoning for a lot of people living in one house... There aren't any real rules. I own a pest control company and provide service here in Vegas to very large families living under one roof, it is easy to find fifteen people living together in a 4 or 5 bedroom home. The economy got bad, people moved in together, it just happened. I live just a few minutes from the Browns and on the same street as the high school the older kids go to and there are majorly large homes literally across the street from that school. I'm talking homes that are upward of 5000 sq feet, with lots of bedrooms, guest homes, etc... There are compounds everywhere out here, some that were over $1mm a couple years ago that are now going for $300k or $400k. My neighborhood has 25 homes, and 5 of those are in foreclosure all for less than $120k when they originally sold for $350-$500k 5 years ago brand new. The smallest are 3 bedrooms, with lofts, 2 car garages and about 2000 sq feet. The bigger ones are 4 bed 3 bath 2 car garage and are 2056 sq feet. 4 of these homes are on the same street, one is on the first cul-de-sac. It takes our daughter less than 15 min to walk to the high school (and thats because she is taking her time). So, yes there are plenty of options for homes to own for super cheap, a lot more to rent really close together (recently the last cul-de-sac in our community had 4 houses up for rent all about the same time). Three of the houses the Browns are renting are super closer together, and Meri's is the farthest, which is kinda far in comparison because there aren't any through streets to make it a quick trip, it requires a lot of turning in and out of neighborhoods. Another thing, the Browns are on the verge of an area that goes from good to bad. It's a fine line between a really nice clean area and not and they are right on that line. Meri just registered her daughter at the highschool last week, she was in the Lexus driving right behind me and daughter (we were also headed to the school but to the sports department so we didn't end up in the same area). The highschool is huge, but has the highest graduation rate for the entire area. It also has some of the best test scores, lowest crime and violence and the lowest drop out rate so I understand why they wanted to make sure their kids went to that highschool. I know you mentioned the name of it but since my daughter also goes there I;m trying to not mention it over and over again so there aren't a million lookey-loo's hanging around. The younger kids also go to pretty decent schools, but not as good as the high school, and they are just on the verge of being zoned for that school instead of another one that totally stinks, but that is just about the same distance from their houses, one major street separates them from being zoned for that school.Also, has anyone been able to determine what they were going to be doing for that real estate agent? Maybe something that doesn't require licensing? Assistants, property management staff, clean up of abandoned houses, rental clean up. etc... All are big business here. Jenn S

Am I alone in thinking that It is a realators job to know about the market, homes for sale, school systems. If there is such an abundance of homes available and buying cheaper than renting, one would think that your realtor would make you aware of this. Maybe they should have shopped around for a realator, maybe they were made aware of the situation. Who knows maybe this move was planned as temporary. I enjoyed watching the show and will watch next season.

And we will all be there! Cynical Jinx is doing a write up on each and every one, so this will be so much fun here then! Good point abt. the relator. Interesting they are hired there before getting licenses.

not sure at all Just wondering why the wives displayed checks and not Kody? How does this family support itself and divide the money? I am not sure any of us has the story. By the way what are they getting paid for the show? Meri who cried that she might not be getting as much- Her daughter is soon off to college why would she need a 4 bedroom pool house- this is just not life as I know it- Meri get a job and stop feeling sorry for yourself is what I say- Where does Kody enter into this pictue?

I think it is fantastic that you aren't willing to give the addresses out, very classy. Having said that, based on the photos posted on this blog, we were able to find their homes. I thought you might appreciate this info, as it is clear you do not want to invade in their personal lives, but it is still indirectly happening. I am assuming if we add out of staters could find it, anyone could. Food for thought. :)

I also own a home in the Las Vegas area, not far from the Lone Mountain, Centennial area. There are so many foreclosure, homes that are on the same street, in the same neighborhood or condos that are at least 3 bedroom that could have been rented. I also do not see why such HUGE homes are needed when they say that the mortgages are going to be a problem. Why build such monstrosities. REALLY. And with Mariah off at college, I also agree, really irresponsible for Meri to have that size of a house. If they are truly one family then why would Meri just not move in with one of the other wives in their HUGE homes. It is just so financially irresponsible. So many people are walking away from their homes and ruining the market or claiming bankruptcy. This is morally wrong. You should be able to afford what you purchase and I really do not believe they can.

Looks like the Brown family should have bought an apartment complex. Remodeling & tweaking could have made each apt the right size for each wife but then they could have rented out the apts as the children grew up & left home

Since my children share the same elementary school I also know where the Browns live. My question is, How can Christine and Janelle share the family last name "Brown" when they are not legally married to Kody?

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